Illegal ‘sprouts’ on this green belt

Illegal ‘sprouts’ on this green belt
Deccan Herald

Manganahalli, Kodigehalli grama panchayat, the area, three km from Nagarabhavi, is earmarked as a green belt but has seen many unauthorised private layouts being formed, under the ‘watchful’ eyes of the authorities.

Those of you who have bought land or are planning to buy a plot or two near a village called Manganahalli, Kodigehalli grama panchayat, Yeshwanthpur Hobli, beware!

The area, three km from Nagarabhavi, is earmarked as a green belt but has seen many unauthorised private layouts being formed, under the ‘watchful’ eyes of the authorities.

The Revenue Department admits that many unauthorised layouts have cropped up on agricultural and government lands in and around Bangalore. Ironically, little has been done to protect or safeguard these areas. In a follow-up on the status of the lands near Hirekere lake, Kodigehalli GP, Deccan Herald found that the unauthorised layouts formed in the area were intact, and now houses were being constructed by the developers who bought lands here.

About two months ago, this reporter visited the area to find that neatly formed residential areas had come up on 67 acres, meant only for agricultural purposes. Five years ago, the government had given 36 acres of the 67 acres to 12 farmers in the area for cultivation purposes. They in turn sold the land to developers for varying amounts, resulting in the ‘illegal’ layouts.

Some of the villagers said that sites were being sold for as low as Rs 200 per sq feet, which lured many unsuspecting people into buying plots here.

Apart from the houses that have already started coming up, an office by the name ‘Udaya Layout’ has also been set up by some unidentified developers, who have reportedly been selling lands.

Helpless authorities?

Mr Veeralingegowda, tahsildar, Bangalore North said that he was unaware of the structures which have come up. “Yes, we were aware that layouts were being formed, but we could not take any action against the developers because we lack resources like JCBs to demolish the layouts,” he said, adding that he would soon inspect the area.

With the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) planning to acquire lands in the area, a few people have hurriedly started building houses as they stand to gain from it. However, Mr Veerabhadraiah, land acquisition DC, BDA said that they would not call for notification until the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) was released. “A month after the CDP comes through, we will start acquiring lands here,” he added.

Criminal cases

After investigation, the Revenue Department would book criminal cases against both the land owners and developers, for using agricultural lands for other purposes, said a department source. “Since the law is not very clear, we cannot state as to what will happen to the lands and the kind of compensation the people who have bought sites will receive,” said the source, adding that tahsildars of all jurisdictions had submitted a list of unauthorised layouts that have been formed around the City.

“Criminal cases will be booked against 100 odd people,” said the official. So far, the department has one land owner — Govind Raj — in their net.

Given below is the list of the land owners who have sold lands: Narasaiah bin Solappa, Siddappa bin Solappa, Krishnappa bin Laingamaraiah, Shanthamma C/o Hanumanthappa, Venkatappa bin Yellegowda, Venkataiah bin Munivenkatappa, Gangamma bin Venkatappa, Ramanna bin Hanumaiah, Lakshmamma bin Venkatappa, and Ningappa. All belong to Manganahalli Village, Kodigehalli GP, Yeshwanthpur Hobli.